CJ Kayfus Saves the Guardians in Doubleheader Split With Cubs

CLEVELAND – The cold weather that swept through on Saturday evening also cooled off the Cleveland Guardians ’ bats ahead of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. With Cleveland taking down the Cubs during Friday’s home opener, the Guardians only needed to win one game to secure a series victory. While they didn’t make it easy on themselves, Cleveland did just that, thanks to CJ Kayfus, who saved the Guardians with a pair of timely hits.

The Guardians only managed to log one hit off the Cubs in the first game of the doubleheader. That hit was a double, which was just shy of a home run, landing on the warning track in right field and bouncing off the wall. That play was just a precursor for what was to come in the Guardians in the nightcap of the two-game day.

Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Guardians celebrate a win over the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Cleveland’s bats started out just as cold as they were in the first game of the doubleheader. They only had two hits through the first five innings, but finally started to get something rolling in the sixth inning, and Kayfus was in the middle of it.

After the Cubs took out left-handed starter Shota Imanaga, Kayfus pinch hit for starter David Fry with runners on first and second. He ripped a ball right back up the middle, scoring Kwan and giving the Guardians their first run of the game and of the day. Even though Kayfus wasn’t a starter in this game, he said after the game he made sure to be ready once Chicago’s starter was done, because he realizes in-game substitutions are something the Guardians routinely do.